Description
This Grilled Lobster Tail Recipe delivers tender, juicy lobster with a smoky char and rich garlic butter. Ready in about 20 minutes, it’s an impressive yet surprisingly simple seafood dinner perfect for special occasions, summer grilling, or an elegant weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Lobster Tails
- 4 lobster tails
Garlic Butter Mixture
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For Serving
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Extra melted butter, for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare Lobster Tails: Using kitchen shears, carefully cut through the top shell of each lobster tail from the opening toward the tail, stopping before the end to avoid cutting through completely.
- Loosen Meat: Gently loosen the lobster meat from the shell and lift it slightly so it rests on top of the shell, exposing the meat for better grilling.
- Make Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, chopped parsley, paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Coat Lobster: Brush the lobster meat generously with the prepared garlic butter mixture, ensuring full coverage for flavor.
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
- Grill Meat-Side Down: Place the lobster tails on the grill with the meat side down. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes to achieve a smoky char.
- Flip and Butter: Carefully flip the lobster tails shell-side down and brush more garlic butter onto the meat.
- Finish Grilling: Grill the tails for another 4 to 6 minutes or until the meat turns opaque and reaches an internal temperature of 140–145°F (60–63°C).
- Rest Lobster: Remove the lobster tails from the grill and let them rest for a couple of minutes to redistribute juices.
- Serve: Serve with lemon wedges and extra melted butter for dipping, alongside your favorite sides.
Notes
- Do not overcook lobster, as the meat can become tough and rubbery.
- Smaller lobster tails may cook faster, so start checking for doneness early.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the garlic butter for added heat.
- Pair with grilled vegetables, corn, rice, or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- If using frozen lobster tails, thaw completely in the refrigerator before grilling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Seafood
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American, Seafood
